Heavy rain expected over weekend

2012-10-19 14:42

Flooding after heavy rains in Uitenhage. (News24 user)

Johannesburg - Heavy rain and severe thunderstorms were expected over parts of South Africa this weekend, the SA Weather Service said on Friday.

Forecaster Elizabeth Webster said the service had issued alerts for heavy rainfall in the southern parts of the Eastern Cape, and severe thunderstorms over the Mpumalanga highveld for Saturday.

"Severe storms are also expected in the south-west parts of Limpopo, which could move into Gauteng," she said.

There were also alerts for heavy falls along the Eastern Cape and parts of the Western Cape coastline.

Four people died when heavy rains and storms hit the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga during the week.

Mpumalanga officials said on Thursday that mopping-up operations were underway in the province. A seven-year-old boy in Nkomazi died on Tuesday when the roof of his home collapsed.

Bodies recovered

Three people in the boy's household were hospitalised with serious injuries. Five others from nearby homes were also injured.

On Wednesday night a policeman and two other people drowned when their car was washed away during heavy rains near Peddie in the Eastern Cape.

Rescue teams recovered the three bodies on Thursday morning.

The Sowetan reported on Friday a woman was injured and 20 homes were destroyed during a freak thunderstorm in Berseba village, near Rustenburg in the North West, on Wednesday night.

Residents said hail the size of tennis balls struck the village for 15 minutes.

- SAPA